Trump Promises $5,000 Checks and Announces Smaller Payments Ahead of Midterm Elections

With Election Day less than a month away, President Donald Trump is promoting two federal cash-payment programs currently in effect while renewing a larger promise of $5,000 checks contingent on Republicans retaining Congress. On Friday, Trump announced one-time $90 payments to 20.8 million Medicare beneficiaries. A day later, he reiterated a previous commitment to provide every adult U.S. citizen $5,000, but only if Republicans maintain control of Congress in November. "If Republicans win the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 Midterm Elections, I'm going to give all Adult Citizens in the United States of America, $5,000," Trump stated in a Truth Social video post on Saturday. He made a similar pledge at the Republican National Committee's first midterm convention in Dallas last month. Trump has not detailed who would authorize the payments or the source of the funding. These announcements follow $500 Obamacare "refund" checks that began distribution last week to approximately 950,000 individuals who purchased unsubsidized coverage through the federal marketplace. The $90 payments to eligible Medicare Part B enrollees are set to arrive this month, funded through the Medicare Improvement Fund. The $500 Obamacare payments are being distributed to certain full-price HealthCare.gov customers. A Reuters analysis found that 71% of the Obamacare funds—$339 million—are allocated to residents of 13 states with competitive Senate and gubernatorial races, although eligibility is based on insurance status rather than voting status. The series of cash payment offers comes as Republicans approach the final phase of a midterm campaign focused on economic concerns. However, the $5,000 "Trump dividend" remains a promise, with Trump providing minimal details regarding funding and authorization. Sending $5,000 to every adult citizen would cost approximately $1.2 trillion and require congressional approval. Some Republicans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the deficit and inflation. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., indicated last month that he would work to oppose the proposal, warning it could lead to higher interest rates. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., referred to the plan as a "political bribe" in a September 10 interview with CNN, emphasizing that Congress controls federal spending. The White House and the offices of Reps. Schweikert and Raskin did not respond to requests for comment. Polling indicates that the proposal may not be a guaranteed political advantage. A Rasmussen Reports survey found likely voters nearly evenly split, with 47% in favor and 48% opposed. Only 15% indicated it would influence their vote. A Marquette Law School poll in Wisconsin revealed that 70% opposed the payments, while an Economist/YouGov survey found that 57% of registered voters doubted Trump would follow through with the payments even if Republicans retained Congress. Historically, Trump has made multiple promises to provide cash payments to Americans that did not come to fruition. In February 2025, the Trump administration proposed a $5,000 "DOGE dividend" check, claiming funding would come from savings from cuts made by the now-defunct Elon Musk-led "Department of Government Efficiency," but those payments never occurred. In November, Trump suggested a reciprocal tariff-funded dividend payment of at least $2,000 per person, but the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs in February of this year, and no checks were issued. The trend of offering cash payments to voters dates back to Trump's first term; six weeks before the 2020 election, Trump promised 33 million Medicare beneficiaries $200 prescription-drug cards "in coming weeks," but those cards were never distributed. Nonetheless, the Trump administration did issue a $1,776 "Warrior Dividend" to approximately 1.5 million service members last year, and Congress approved pandemic stimulus payments during his first term.